Obituary: Edith C. DuPrey, 91

Longtime Rockville Centre resident Edith DuPrey died peacefully at her home in Plymouth, Mass. on May 31, with family at her side.

Born on Dec. 21, 1923, DuPrey spent her childhood in Astoria. After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary for the confectioner Louis Sherry. In April 1945, she married William A. Corvelle, who was serving in the Navy during World War II. The couple was stationed in Washington, D.C., where DuPrey worked briefly for the Red Cross.

Upon their return to Queens, DuPrey worked in Manhattan as a secretary during the war for Linde Air Products in the office of General Leslie R. Groves, Lieutenant General US Army, who was in charge of the Manhattan Engineer Project. The Manhattan Project was the cover name for the atomic bomb project, and basic atomic bomb research was conducted under General Groves’ direction.

After her first marriage ended in divorce, DuPrey worked as a secretary for Liberty Mutual in Lynbrook. She married George J. DuPrey of Rockville Centre in April 1967 and the couple were village residents for 45 years. George, founder of the DuPrey Construction Company, was a local general contractor until his retirement in the 1980’s; DuPrey assisted in the business as office manager.

George predeceased his wife in 2014 after a 47-year marriage. Duprey was an active parishioner at the Church of the Ascension in and assisted in many church events until she and her husband moved to Stafford Hill Assisted Living Residence in Plymouth in 2012. During her time there, she had the opportunity to pursue her lifelong interest in art, and became an accomplished artist in the acrylic medium.

DuPrey is survived by her children James DuPrey (Cheryl), Stephen DuPrey, Joseph DuPrey (Debbie), George DuPrey, Stephen Corvelle (Leslie), Janice Heffernan (Tom) and Laurel Book (Gary). She was predeceased by her son, Douglas Corvelle. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A wake will be held on Thursday, June 4 at Glynn Funeral Home, 20 Lincoln Ave., with visitation from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral is to be held Friday, June 5, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Ascension, 71 North Village Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in DuPrey’s name to the Book of Remembrance, Church of the Ascension, or to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth, MA, 02360.